How do cataracts occur? Who is at risk for cataracts? Do cataracts have to be treated with surgery? Today, we will give you the authoritative answers to your questions!
Q1. I often hear about cataracts, but what exactly is a cataract?
Cataract is a mixture of the transparent lens in the eye. The initial clouding is mild or small in extent and does not affect vision, but gradually worsens to the point where it affects vision or even blindness.
Q2. How do cataracts occur?
Cataracts may occur from several causes.
Ultraviolet radiation: In addition to the direct damage to the eyes caused by long-term exposure to sunlight, ultraviolet light can also affect the lens redox process and prompt the degeneration of lens proteins.
Lens nutrient metabolism disorders: As we age, there is often arteriosclerosis, liver detoxification, metabolic disorders and renal excretion disorders, which can have adverse effects on the nutrient metabolism of the lens.
Endocrine disorders: clinically common diabetes mellitus and hypothyroidism can aggravate and lead to the occurrence and development of senile cataract.
Genetic factors: The more definite ones are congenital cataracts, which are closely related to family inheritance. Some senile cataracts are also related to heredity.
Q3. Who is prone to cataracts?
Cataracts most often occur in people over the age of 50. Cataracts appear earlier in diabetic patients. A few young people, newborns, and infants may also develop cataracts.
Q4: Do cataracts occur in all people as they get older?
Not every elderly person will develop cataracts, or it can be said that although most elderly people will develop cataracts, not every one of them will develop to such an extent that it will significantly affect their vision and require surgery.
Q5. What are the possible symptoms of cataract patients?
The main symptoms are painless progressive vision loss. Some patients may also experience temporary myopia deepening, and occasionally double vision or even multiple vision in one eye.
Q6.How to treat cataract?
There are many cataract treatment drugs available on the market, but there is no scientific evidence to prove that drugs can cure cataract. Surgery is the only way to treat cataracts most effectively, with a success rate close to 100%.
Q7. When is it more appropriate to receive cataract surgery?
“Cataracts should not be operated until they are fully mature and invisible.” This is an outdated view. Generally speaking, cataract patients whose vision affects their normal life and work should be operated. Some patients with higher vision requirements can also be considered for surgery when their vision is 0.3 or 0.4. It should be noted that there is one type of cataract that never matures; there is another type of cataract that may also induce glaucoma in the process of maturation.
Q8: What is cataract ultrasound emulsification surgery about? Can it be done without hospitalization?
Cataract ultrasound emulsification surgery uses ultrasonic shock to emulsify the cloudy lens and then suck it out. It has the advantages of small incision and quick recovery. Because the incision is small and self-closing, no sutures are needed. Patients are able to go home and rest after surgery, but some patients in remote areas can be hospitalized for a few days for observation.
Q9: Will cataract recur after surgery?
Generally, cataracts do not recur after surgery. However, a few cataract patients may have clouding of the residual capsule several months or years after surgery, which is called posterior cataract, and can be treated with YAG laser in an outpatient clinic.
Q10: Do I need glasses after IOL implantation?
For those who work more at close distances, the operator may choose IOLs mainly to meet the patient’s near vision, and if you want to see far more clearly, you need to wear low-degree concave lenses (myopic lenses).
For those with higher distance vision requirements, the operator may select IOLs to primarily meet the patient’s distance vision, and may need lower prescription convex lenses (distance vision lenses) if they want to read books and newspapers.